Wrench.



dUNrr'n STAT-ns PATENT OFFICE.

HARRISON DECKER, OF COLUMBIA FALLS, MONTANA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,377, dated Apr122, 1902.

Application led August 8, 1901.

T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, HARRISON DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oolumbia Falls, in the county of Flathead and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to wrenches,and more particularly to a rapid-transit wrench-one in which the jaws may be quickly brought together to grasp the object to be acted upon.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production.

With this and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective View of the wrench, showing the worm-wheel elevated from engagement with the worm-teeth of the shank and the sliding jaw in position for quick adjustment; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the Worm-wheel in engagement with the worm-teeth.

In the drawings, l denotes the shank; 2, the handle; 3, the fixed jaw, and 4 the sliding jaw.

The sliding jaw is mounted to slide upon the j shank l and is provided with a spring-chamber 6, in which is located a spring 7, the outer end of which is secured against movement, while the inner end bears upon a spindle 8, pivoted at 9 within the chamber of the jaw 4. The inner end of this spindle 8 works in a guide-slot l0, formed in an extension 1l of the movable jaw, thus bracing that end of the spindle and materially adding strength to the wrench. Loosely journaled upon the spindle is a worm 12, which is adapted to engage the worm-teeth 13 of the shank and enablesthe jaw 4 to be slowly adjusted with respect to the jaw 3 in the usual manner; but when it is desired to effect a rapid adjustment of these jaws with respect to each other the worm- Serial No. 71,381. (No model.)

wheel is elevated from engagement with the worm-teeth and the jaw 4 slipped away from the jaw 3, and after it has been adjusted to suit the work it is locked in its adjusted position by engaging the worm-wheel with the worm-teeth, said worm-Wheel being held in place by the spring 7.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

It will be observed that the outer end of the spindle is pivoted to the side walls of the chamber and that the spring is located within said chamber in such position as to prevent injury to the hands in the operation of the wrench. It will be further observed that the outer end of the worm abuts against the inner end of the chamber, and thereby closes said chamber, so that when the jaw 4 is moved up against the jaw 3, which position the parts l should assume when the wrench is not in use,

it will be impossible for foreign matter, pieces of iron, small screws, and other objects to work into the chamber, and thereby prevent the worm from beingswung up and down when occasion requires. i

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without depart ing from the spirit or sacriiicing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pata ent, is-

In a wrench, the combination with a shank provided with Worm-teeth and a fixed jaw, of a movable jaw mounted to slide upon said shank and provided with a chamber open at both ends, said movable jaw being provided at its rear end With an upwardly-projecting slotted extension, a spindle journaled to the side walls of said chamber at a point Within the-chamber and having its outerend projecting into the slotted extension and guided thereby, a spring located within, said chamber and surrounded by the `walls thereof and exerting its energy to force the spindle t0- ward the shank, and a worm journaled on said Spindle between the slotted. extension and the my hand in presence of two subscribing Witinner open end of the ehamber,\vhe1eby when nesses. the jaw 4 is moved into Contact with the jaw 3, both ends of the chamber will be closed to prevent the admission therein of foreign meth XVitnesseS: ter or objects, substantially as set forth. y II. S. MILLER,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set THEODORE CHITENSEN.

HARRISON DECKER. 

